Unions, boards circumventing right-to-work laws should be held accountable, but not by GOP

Protestors gather outside the Romney Building across from the Capitol in Lansing on Dec. 11, 2012 after the state House passed the right-to-work bill.Chris Clark | MLive.com

Editor's note: The following opinion piece reflects the views of The Grand Rapids Press editorial board.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Teachers unions in Grand Rapids and other areas of the state are clearly – and legally – trying to circumvent the newly signed right-to-work laws by trying to lock in contracts prior to the legislation going into effect on March 28.

But some Republican lawmakers, who had no problems whipping the bills through the lame duck session in December, are crying foul and making threats. They shouldn’t be.

The law would allow people to work in a union shop without paying union dues or fees.
The legislation is widely viewed as an attempt by the GOP to weaken the unions -- which tend to line up behind Democratic candidates -- especially with the 2014 elections not that far away.

The law affects contracts that expire after March 27. Unions, including those in Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids Community College and Rockford, are trying to delay the impact of right-to-work laws by years getting new deals inked before then.

Some districts and universities on the east side of the state are overreaching. Taylor’s union was able to extend its contract for an unprecedented decade. Contracts at Wayne State University and Warren School District were extended for eight years.

To be clear, this is legal, even though it flies against the spirit of the law. Locally elected school boards agreeing to such contracts are accountable to their voters, who might have issues.

Grand Rapids Public Schools leaders are offering teachers a three-year deal, and Grand Rapids Community College trustees are expected to vote Monday on a new pact for faculty members. Employees at both have been working without contracts.

Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler said he’s not worried about the deadline, but would sign a short contract if he believes it is a good deal for taxpayers. His two unions have deals that won’t expire until the summer.

It’s a short-term strategy for the unions, who fear losing members and money. Those contracts are going to expire eventually, and any members who might be on the fence about staying aren’t going to be made happier by being denied the option for a few more years.

But state Republican lawmakers are on shaky ground for calling out the unions for rushing to ink contracts before a deadline, thereby circumventing a law that the Republicans famously rushed into place before a deadline.

But the actions go beyond the usual Lansing rhetorical bluster. Leaders of several districts and unions have been summoned to explain their actions before state House committees.

The chair of the state House committee that oversees state aid for higher education is proposing that no university approving a deal before the deadline get a funding boost unless they meet new criteria. And state Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton, hinted at similar sanctions, calling the contracts “unconscionable.”

We need more from Republican leaders than what looks like intimidation.

These universities and districts need to reach fair and reasonable deals for the sake of students and families and stability of their institutions as soon as possible.

If they violate the spirit of the law by doing so, they should be held accountable by voters and union members -- not by state Republican lawmakers who rushed through the law in a lame duck session when many of them were on their way out of town.